The Capital Area Transit (CAT) is altering one of its bus routes to begin serving United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) later this month.
“This route addition is very exciting,” said Transit Director Robin Werre. “There are a number of students and staff that we can serve at United Tribes Technical College, and we are thrilled to do so.”
The CAT will be altering its B-2 route, which serves southeast Bismarck, on Sept. 15. The route presently goes south of Kirkwood Mall, turns west on Denver, and travels south on Washington before turning east on Burleigh, heading north on University, curving east on Airway, traveling north on 26th, and then following Bismarck Expressway back to the Kirkwood.
The B-2 will leave Kirkwood Mall on 3rd, going south, and turn west on Reno, before turning south on Washington. The route will then follow Burleigh east and eventually travel across University before making a loop through the UTTC campus, going north on Sisseton Street, traveling west through parking lot at the campus wellness center, south on Turtle Mountain Road, and east on Standing Rock Road. The route will then exit the campus on Burleigh Avenue and finish the route back to Kirkwood Mall.
“This route change also fits well with the changes we’ve made to our discounted rate to include college students,” added Werre. “If a college student presents valid student identification to bus drivers, or at our office on East Rosser in Bismarck, they can save 75 cents on a one-way fare, $2.50 on a one-day pass, and $10 on a 30-day pass.”
“Given the remarkable growth of the Bismarck-Mandan population area, UTTC appreciates the opportunity to look at ways to expand services for our students,” said Dr. Phil Baird, interim UTTC president. “We are very excited to enter into this new partnership with CAT; it’s another win-win situation they have afforded us.”
The changes to the beginning of the B-2 should help offset the additional time spent at the campus, keeping the route times the same for potential passengers along the route. The B-2 route presently takes about 25 minutes from beginning to end, and makes nine trips through Bismarck Monday through Friday, with eight trips on Saturdays.
“I’ve driven the route with a car a few times, as well as a bus, simulating stops along the way, and it should time out about right,” said CAT Manager Nate Vatnsdal. “We’ll be monitoring that route specifically for the first few weeks following the switch, and if we find we are lagging behind, there are a few other things we can do to streamline the route, while still maintaining coverage for all potential customers.”
UTTC is purchasing 400 one-way passes, and 120 one-day passes, to help promote the route change for its students.
